解:如图,延长$AD$至点$E,$使得$ED = AD,$连接$CE$
∵$AD$是边$BC$上的中线,∴$BD = CD$
$ $在$\triangle ABD$和$\triangle ECD$中
$ \begin {cases}AD = ED\\∠ADB=∠EDC\\BD = CD\end {cases}$
∴$\triangle ABD≌\triangle ECD(S AS)$
∴$AB = EC = 8,$$S_{\triangle ABD}=S_{\triangle ECD}$
∵$S_{\triangle ABC}=S_{\triangle ABD}+S_{\triangle ADC},$$S_{\triangle AEC}=S_{\triangle ECD}+S_{\triangle ADC}$
∴$S_{\triangle ABC}=S_{\triangle AEC}$
∵$AD=\frac {15}2,$∴$AE = AD + DE = 15$
又∵$AC = 17,$∴$AE^2+EC^2=15^2+8^2 = 289,$$AC^2=17^2=289$
∴$AE^2+EC^2=AC^2,$∴$∠E = 90°$
∴$S_{\triangle ABC}=S_{\triangle AEC}=\frac 12\ \mathrm {A}E·EC=\frac 12×15×8 = 60$